Citizenship cannot be a service granted quickly in exchange for investment and should be based on a genuine and lasting connection with the state, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan said.
Addressing a requirement under the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan to refrain from granting citizenship in exchange for investment, or from so-called “golden passport” schemes, she stressed that it is a benchmark established as a preventive measure. In her assessment, the requirement is fully consistent with Armenia’s agenda for reforming the institution of citizenship and does not contradict government programs aimed at increasing the country’s attractiveness to investors.
“The concept of granting citizenship in exchange for investment has been discussed from time to time, and these discussions are not new. However, as the official responsible for this area, my position is clear and principled: citizenship cannot be a service obtained quickly in exchange for investment. It is an institution that must be based on a genuine and lasting connection with the state,” Arpine Sargsyan stressed, according to the ministry.
She said Armenia has not developed mechanisms for issuing “golden passports,” while the policy directions currently adopted do not envisage introducing such a model either.
The interior minister stressed that this approach does not restrict investment policy in any way. According to her, encouraging investment and the institution of citizenship are based on different principles and cannot be viewed as interconnected or interchangeable instruments.
“Our policy approach is as follows: we create a stable and open environment for investment, while preserving citizenship as an institution based on a lasting and genuine connection with the state. We are now developing a package of amendments to the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia, which will also include stricter requirements. This means that we are reassessing the value of citizenship as an institution,” the interior minister said.
